Sludges removed in the secondary treatment process are dewatered using rotary drum thickeners, then blended with sludges removed in the primary treatment process. The blended sludge is then treated by anaerobic digestion. The digested sludge is thickened using dry solids centrifuges, then transported to a holding facilty, from where it is applied to crop land as a soil amendment.

To learn more about how the Facility went from a pollution control plant to a resource and recovery center click here.

Plant Staffing
The Dubuque W&RRC is staffed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The staff of 18 is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the plant, the sanitary sewer pumping stations located throughout the city, and laboratory operations.

The lab conducts a variety of water and wastewater analyses for the City of Dubuque, local industries, surrounding communities, and private individuals.